OTHER COMMON NAMES: BROOK LEEK; DRAGON; DRAGON'S FEMALE; EDDERWORT; FAVEROLE; INDIAN TURNIP; SNAKE PLANT

All plants in Aracaeae are toxic. The main toxin is calcium oxalate, present as needle-like raphides inside specialised cells throughout the plant, called idioblasts, which when chewed fire the needles into the tongue, gums and throat of the eater. The needles cause thousands of micro-wounds, probably also introduce oxalic acid into damaged tissues, and additionally cause massive histamine release and cause extreme pain and swelling.

Toxic. Source of toxicity uncertain but probably involves oxalate crystals and possibly certain esters